In Isaac Watt's great hymn, Am I a Soldier of the Cross? we read this question: "Must I be carried to the skies on flow'ry beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize, and sailed through bloody seas?" The question asked by this hymn addresses a very real issue to which we must all respond – because few in Christ leave this world unscarred – upon what grounds do I have to expect that I should be "carried to the skies on flow'ry beds of ease"? In fact based on the testimony of Scripture, what grounds do any of us have to expect that we will not enter heaven with scars created even by those numbered among God's people? Remember, Christ was betrayed by one of His disciples.(1) Moses, Joshua, and Caleb were threatened by God's people.(2) And first and second Timothy is written to a young shepherd suffering persecution from within the body of Christ.(3)
The Scriptures very plainly teaches that in the world we have tribulation, but that's only half of it. In the church, in the body of Christ, we also have tribulation! In fact, there is not a person here who is above persecuting another in this body. Not simply on account of their sin. But, get this, on account of their righteousness.
And that is why 2 Samuel 11-12 is such a valuable text. Herein lies the all-too familiar passage of David's sin with Bathsheba. Yet, this passage details much more than just David's sin with Bathsheba: it describes the events surrounding the death of a good man, Uriah the Hittite. It is the story of David's persecution and assassination of a man who loved him very much.
This morning, I want us to look at this text, not just as ones who someday may be hurt by another in the body of Christ. But I want us to look at this text as ones who certainly will transgress against the body of Christ. I want us to look at this text as one that will hurt the "Good Man." To do that, let me begin by describing the context of this passage.
In the nineteenth year of his reign as King of Israel,(4) David sent his armies led by Joab to fight against the sons of Ammon. And instead of going with his armies, as you know, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. One evening David saw a beautiful women taking a bath and he lusted after her. The he determined to take her for his own.(5) After inquiring about her and discovering that her husband had left with Joab to battle, David took her to himself and laid with her.(6) Now upon discovering that Bathsheba was pregnant, this "man after God's own heart" decided to cover up his crime, so he gave special leave to Uriah the Hittite from the battle field.(7) David knew that Uriah—like all soldiers away from home—could not wait to be with his wife. And David expected that upon Uriah's coming home, Uriah would lay with Bathsheba and nine months later when the baby, who was sired by David, was born, everyone would think that the father was Uriah. But, Uriah refused to go home. Instead, he spent his leave from the battle line sleeping at the door of the king.(8) This unexpected turn of events caused David to change plans.
Since David's "cover up" didn't work, he turned his focus upon exterminating Uriah. So David began to plot the murder of his lover's husband! In 2 Samuel 11:14-16 we read that David wrote a letter to Joab instructing him to place Uriah in the heat of the battle. Joab was ordered to expose him in the front line. Moreover, Joab was to make sure that Uriah became a casualty of war.
And thus we read of the death of this good man, Uriah the Hittite.
2 Samuel 11:17, "And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also."
Now brothers and sisters, the tragedy of this event is compounded when we consider Uriah's commitment to his king – King David.
The Hebrew language is such that it shows its meaning. Because it is more inclined to "show it" than "say it" there are two elements in this passage that reveal Uriah's deep commitment to David and His kingdom: his refusal to enjoy the comforts of home and his insistence of sleeping at the king's door.
2 Samuel 11:10-11, "And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing."
This text teaches us that Uriah refused to enjoy the comforts of home because his comrades were at that moment suffering the hardships of war. How could Uriah live in ease when his companions were suffering? How could Uriah enjoy the comforts of home when his fellow soldiers were in want? In fact, taking advantage of man's inclination for his heart to grow cold when it comes to devotion, David kept Uriah for a period longer than expected.(9) And then David plotted to make Uriah drunk, and still Uriah would not go home to Bathsheba.(10)
Truly, when it came to Israel and its army, no one could doubt where Uriah's heart was – Israel and its welfare were Uriah's first love. To enjoy the comforts of home while his comrades were suffering on a battle field violated Uriah's sense of commitment to his nation. Uriah was a man devoted to Israel and its people. And yet, this is only half of it. Uriah could have slept in any number of places as an "act of participation" with his comrades who were at that moment on the front line, yet Uriah consistently slept in a location that spoke of a deep-seated devotion to David.(11)
2 Samuel 11:9, "But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house."
The "door of the king" most likely was a barracks erected next to the King's quarters. Because of its strategic location, it was the place of greatest protection for David – in fact, the "door of the king" was where David's royal guard slept at night. So, Uriah positioned himself at "the door of his king" that in the event of attack or ambush, Uriah could protect David!
2 Samuel 11:13, "And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house."
Even though he was under the influence of alcohol, Uriah still chose to sleep with the royal guard at the door of the king! Joyce Baldwin wrote these words on this passage:
"David had expected and hoped that Uriah would prove to be like himself; instead he proved to be a man of integrity, whose first loyalty was to the king's interests rather than to his own pleasure."(12)
From this we get a glimpse at the integrity of Uriah's character. It was King and country first, and then personal satisfaction! It was David's welfare and protection first, and then personal comfort! It is little wonder that Uriah is mentioned as one of David's mighty warriors.(13) Uriah was the one entrusted with delivering a letter to Joab – a letter containing the orders for his own execution.(14)
And thus we see the death of a good man—killed by the very one he sought most to protect. Truly this age is an era in which good and upright men are persecuted, not on account of their sin or a violation of any known law. But rather they are persecuted for that which makes them most admirable – their devotion, goodness, faithfulness.
Indeed, listen to the word of God.
1 Peter 4:12, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you."
2 Timothy 3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
1 Peter 2:20-21, "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps."
And yet brothers and sisters, we fail to fully consider this passage concerning the death of Uriah until we place ourselves in the place of David and consider that not our neighbor, our government, or organized religion is the one guilty of murdering the good man, but rather it is ourselves that kill the one most committed and devoted to us.
Brothers and sisters do not be deceived. Just as Nathan used the story of a fabulously wealthy merchant who owned countless numbers of sheep that stole from a poverty stricken peasant his only ewe lamb that was loved as if it were part of this peasant's own household to arouse David's wrath and great anger in which he essentially says, "NOT IN MY KINGDOM!" Then Nathan confronted David with these shocking words, "THOU ART THE MAN!"
So also we must allow the story of Uriah's death to confront us with the same weighty words of, "THOU ART THE MAN!" And yet you ask, What good man have we killed? In what way are we guilty of assassinating one so devoted to ourselves – one who denied Himself His own pleasure to lay at our front door to protect us? In what way have we killed One who was willing to suffer a thousands deaths if it meant our safety?
Turn with me to Colossians 2:13-14.
Colossians 2:13-14, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."
This is a passage with which most of you are familiar. In the days of Christ if a person accumulated a debt that he could not pay he was placed in Debtor's Prison where he would remain until his debt was paid.(15) Now while in this prison, a document known as a "certificate of debt" would be placed on his prison door detailing his obligation. In light of this notice the text again:
Colossians 2:13-14, "And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (NAS)
Indeed, just as Uriah bore the letter whose contents called for his execution, so also Christ bore the letter – the certificate of debt whose contents called for our execution! And thus, as Uriah died to protect a man who had ruthlessly violated him, so also Christ died to protect the very ones who violated Him.
Brothers and sisters let us not be deceived. We are guilty when it comes to the assassination of a Good Man! Truly, from the Apostle Paul to the Pharisees and Sadducees, from Judas Iscariot to the denials of Peter, all are guilty of the blood of Christ. And lest you think that I am speaking figuratively or in the past tense (as in past sin), don't miss it! Every time we sin. Every time we lust, vent our anger, participate in an unholy deed, fail to do our duties and obligations and think the ignoble thought we transgress against Christ. WE VIOLATE THE GOOD MAN!
Don't ever forget the words of Christ. When Saul was breathing threats and violence against the early church, He said this:
Acts 9:4, "And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"
In His sermon on the Mount of Olives in which the religious evil and wicked are indicted not so much for what they did but for what they didn't do, Christ said this:
Matthew 25:45, "Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
And that is why when David wrote his great psalm of repentance in which is cried for God's mercy on account of his sin with Bathsheba, he wrote these words:
Psalm 51:4, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest."
And yet, herein lies the root of the problem. We live in an age in which we frequently are called to repent of our sin so that our lives will be better. We are asked to repent so that our relationships will be restored. We are called to obedience so that we might enjoy peace and contentment. And yet the deficiency in this is that it misses the root of the problem that we have as sinners: we have violated the majesty and glory of God!
Our problem is not that we lack peace, joy, and loving relationships. Our problem is not that we do not have contentment or the assurance of a glorious hereafter. Rather in our sin we violate the majesty and glory of God. We have transgressed against the holiness of God. We have murdered the Good Man!
And until we come to terms with this, we shall ever seek and never find. We shall ever knock and never enter in. We shall ever ask and not receive. Pharaoh, Balaam, King Saul, and Judas equally confessed, "I have sinned!" Yet all died alienated from God. In contrast, the returning Prodigal who was restored confessed:
Luke 15:21, "And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son."
Truly, we will never be the people God has called us to be until we see our sin for what it really is: A transgression against Jesus Christ! A seeking to dominate and control Christ. And a murdering of the Good Man!
In Herman Melville's book Moby-Dick, Melville details the conflict between Captain Ahab and a great White Whale that once tore off one of Ahab's legs at the knee. The novel recounts Ahab's mad quest for revenge which ultimately destroys his boat, its crew, and himself. Yet the book is about far more than a man's quest for revenge; it is about mankind's passion to conquer and kill Christ!
Melville said that he had wrote an awful book. For this unique and awesome whale which Ahab spends his whole life trying to destroy is Jesus Christ, and Captain Ahab is nothing less than the sinner! Truly the message of Moby-Dick is that in the heart of every man lies a passion which seeks to rule, conquer, and destroy God. This is what the fall of man is all about.(16) That is the sin that compelled Saul to his ravenous destruction of the church in Acts 9. And as Uriah is a type of Christ, no doubt that is what compelled David in his heinous crime against Uriah!
Indeed brothers and sisters, WE ARE THE MAN! We are the ones who seek to manipulate God such that our sin might never be found out. We are the ones that would destroy Him who stands in the way of us and our sin. We are the ones who with our mouths sing God's praises and yet in our hearts desire His undoing. We are the ones!
And thus I call us all – before our passion and lust to destroy Christ leads to our destruction – to go to the cross of Christ and there confess our sin in all its fullness. I summon all of us – before our sin results in our ruin – to confess our sin in all its fullness. For ultimately all our sin is against Christ. All of our sin is a violation of Christ and His character. Ultimately our sin is an attempt by us to control and rule the "Good Man!" Therefore, call off our pursuit of sin and pursue Christ. Willingly and lovingly submit to His Lordship. And remain in this state of repentance and brokenness until the day He calls us home!
Brothers and sisters, let us deceive one another no longer. As I have sinned this past week, I am guilty of seeking the destruction of Christ. I am guilty of seeking to destroy a Man who sleeps at my door to protect me. I am guilty of foul revolt against the majesty and glory of Christ! And so are you.
(c) 1997 Cornerstone Publishing, Greg Thurston preached this sermon 1/12/97
The footnotes were added by the editor to aid the reader in the study of Scripture.
(1) Matthew 26:20-21
(2) Numbers 14
(3) Compare 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:20; 3:12
(4) ~992 BC
(5) I Samuel 11:3
(6) 1 Samuel 11:4-5
(7) 1Samuel 11:6-8
(8) 1 Samuel 11:9-13
(9) 1 Samuel 11:12
(10) 1 Samuel 11:13
(11) 1 Samuel 11:9, 13
(12) Joyce Baldwin, 1 & 2 Samuel, The Old Testament Commentary, page 233
(13) Compare 2 Samuel 23:39; 1 Chronicles 11:41
(14) Compare 1 Samuel 11:14
(15) Compare Luke 12:58-59
(16) Genesis 3:5